Andrew Butchart

Former Kenyans now trading for Turkey won the men’s team title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships that were held on Sunday (10) in Samorin, Slovakia.

The Turkish team that comprised of four Kenyan-born runners, Kaan Kigen Özbilen, originally named Mike Kigen, with Aras Kaya, formally Amos Kibitek in seventh, Polat Kemboi Arıkan, previously known as Paul Kipkosgei Kemboi in ninth and Ali Kaya, originally called Stanley Kiprotich Mukche down in 21st.

Ozbilen won the individual gold for the fourth year in a row. Kemboi Arikan won it in2014, Ali Kaya took honors at the 2015 event while Aras Kaya was the 2016 winner.

Ozbilen cut the tape in 29:45 with Soains Adel Mechaal coming second nine seconds later and Great Britain’s Andrew Butchart closing the podium three in 30:00.

The only Turkish-born athlete in the team, Alper Demir, finished in 55th.

Kenyan-born athletes competing for Turkey has been a controversial subject in recent years. Earlier this year, the IAAF froze the transfer of athletes’ international allegiance to halt the exodus of runners from African countries.

Post-race, the victors held the Turkish flag aloft. Though, it was not correctly aligned. It took Demir, the Turkish-born runner on the Turkish team, to correct the mix-up.

Senior figures in British athletics asked Mo Farah to split with controversial coach Alberto Salazar before the World Athletics Championships in London, only for the four-time Olympic champion to refuse.

Concerned by the negative impact Farah’s continued association could have when the American remains the subject of a United States Anti-Doping investigation, a prominent figure in the sport was asked by UK Athletics to meet Farah and raise the issue after he competed in Ostrava on June 27.

Farah instantly dismissed the possibility of dropping the man who masterminded his amazing transformation from also-ran to arguably the finest distance-runner of all time after also clinching six world titles.

Salazar has always maintained his innocence, but Sportsmail can reveal that the American’s position as a distance-running consultant for UKA was secretly terminated in September 2015.

In the build-up to London 2017 there appeared to be a carefully orchestrated campaign to put distance between Farah and Salazar, with reports of a probable separation after the championships amid claims that his involvement with the Briton had been limited for some time.

That, however, was not the case. Asked on Wednesday if Salazar remains Farah’s coach, his representatives told this newspaper: ‘Alberto is still Mo’s coach.’

Clearly a compromise was reached for the World Championships, with Salazar staying away from London to prevent the situation with USADA from over-shadowing Farah’s last major event on the track and his farewell to British fans. Instead, as this newspaper revealed, Salazar sent his son.

UK Athletics had been nervous about their own association with Salazar since doping allegations about the Nike Oregon Project, where Farah trains, surfaced in a joint BBC Panorama-ProPublica report in June 2015.

Following an investigation into the Panorama claims by the Performance Oversight Group, UKA issued a carefully worded statement in September 2015.

‘In July we said that there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Mo Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme,’ it said. ‘The Oversight Group have restated that view. They have also found no reason to be concerned about the engagement of other British athletes and coaches with the Oregon Project.’

But the UKA board took the immediate decision to end Salazar’s wider association with British distance-runners, limiting him to working with just Farah.

It meant Salazar still had a contract with UKA. But he was informed that his position as a distance-running consultant, technically unpaid as his salary was paid by UKA sponsors Nike, would not exist while the USADA investigation was ongoing.

When a USADA report on the Oregon Project was leaked by Russian hackers earlier this year, the situation once again became uncomfortable for UKA.

On Wednesday one source claimed that there was a desire to see Farah part company with Salazar before he runs in April’s Virgin London Marathon. Indeed, it was said there had been a power struggle between Marathon boss Dave Bedford and Farah prior to Farah committing to the race.

But the talk that took place in Ostrava, Sportsmail understands, was initiated by the governing body. That led to further erosion in the relationship between Farah and UKA. As we revealed in August, Farah refused to work with head of endurance Barry Fudge in the build-up to London. Fudge worked with Salazar for years.

According to one source on Wednesday, the root of the split was Farah’s frustration with Fudge for devoting more of his time to younger runners such as Andrew Butchart and Laura Muir.

UKA are looking at their future funding plans. If they decide to remove Farah from their list of funded athletes, at least they would sever links with Salazar.

Scotland’s Callum Hawkins will defend his title at the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run that will be held on Sunday (1) in Glasgow, Scotland.

With Less than two months after finishing fourth in the marathon at the IAAF World Championships in London, Hawkins shaved more than two minutes off his fastest ever time in last year’s race, crossing the finish-line in 60:24 but the course was later found to be short and his time could not be ratified as a Scottish record.

However, he has since surpassed that mark on two occasions: 60:00 for victory in Kagawa Marugame in February, followed by 60:08 to finish second in New York the following month.

Hawkins is coming off a hard run in the marathon at the World Championships where he just missed out on the medals but he is still confident of putting up a good defence of his title in Glasgow.

“I have been doing this event since 2013 and it is very close to my heart. The support from the home crowd is always great and I’m sure it will be no different on October 1. I’ve had a good year and I’m confident of putting in a good performance in the half marathon,” he said.

Hawkins will be joined on the start-line in Glasgow by teammate Andrew Butchart, a world and Olympic finalist over 5000m. Butchart will be making his debut at the distance. “I’m looking forward to racing against Callum on the day. It’ll be a case of seeing how long I can keep pace with him,” he said.

In the women’s race, former European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey will return to action after ruling herself out of selection contention for the World Championships.

Sir Mo Farah admitted he may not compete for Great Britain again after winning his final track race in Britain. The four-time Olympic champion took victory in the 3,000 metres at the Diamond League in Birmingham in seven minutes 38.64 seconds on Sunday.

He will retire from the track at the Diamond League final in Zurich on Thursday to focus on marathon racing. Farah handed his vest to Andrew Butchart at the end of the race and conceded it will take him two years to get to grips with the marathon so there are no guarantees he will return for GB.

The 34-year-old said: “To be honest, to have achieved what I have achieved has been incredible. If I come out of the marathon and I’m the best at the marathon, I might compete, it depends. “But as an athlete, the next couple of years, it’s going to take me at least two or three marathons to get it right, to learn from it, it’s not easy. It could be my last time.

“This is it for me that was my message for Andy – ‘this is me done, take over from me and just inspire them, see what hard work is about and what it takes to be a champion’. “He has got a great attitude and we need to inspire the next generation. I gave it to him because he’s a great athlete; he gives 110 per cent and is learning over the years. He’s a good guy.”

Farah took the lead with just over a lap left and beat Spain’s Adel Mechaal with Davis Kiplangat third and Butchart finishing fourth. He will race in the Diamond League in Zurich on Thursday and intends to appear at the Great North Run in September but does not yet know when his first marathon will be.

Farah said: “All I ever wanted to do as an athlete is run for Great Britain. I remember when I did the mini marathon as a kid, I got interviewed and asked what I wanted to do, I said I want to run for Great Britain

“Now it’s finally done, I won’t be competing for Great Britain, in terms of major championships, I won’t be taking part. It feels a bit sad.

“It has been an amazing week – I’ve managed to have a bit of downtime with the family and relax but emotions have been high coming into this event; not as much as London (for the World Championships) but it is my last time at home and I really enjoyed it. “I was just thinking about the race and who was there. I had to technically get it right. “I never dreamed that I would become a four-time Olympic champion and multiple world champions.

I now have to see what I will do on the road. I don’t think I’ll have the same pressure so I’ll go and enjoy it. “Running was a hobby when I was younger but it has become a job and I love it. It can be hard when you get the pressure but the roads will be something completely different.”

Butchart, 25, finished sixth in the 5,000m Olympic final last year – which Farah won – and came eighth in the final at the World Championships earlier this month.

He said: “He (Farah) just said ‘It’s up to you now, do your best, it’s your time to shine.’ “I don’t know (what he’ll do with the vest) but it is such a great gesture for him to give it to me. I’ll definitely look after it and cherish it. “It’s going to be hard to follow him.

We’ll do our best, we always do, but I’m going to miss him massively. He’s a massive inspiration. “Every year he comes out on top. Every year he is finishing high up in the major championships.”

Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah signed off track and field events in Britain in style by winning the 3,000 metres at the Grand Prix Birmingham Diamond League meet in England.

The 34-year-old Farah, who is quitting track to focus on marathon running crossed the line 7:38.64.

“Emotions have been high coming into this event – not as much as (the 2012 Olympics in) London but it is my last time at home and I really enjoyed it,” said Farah, who paid tribute to the home fans.

“They have been amazing. This is what it is all about. This is what we dream of. I’ve had some amazing support throughout my career and they have followed my journey so thank you.”

There were never any real worries over whether or not he would win, but for a brief moment on the final lap, Spain’s Adel Mechaal and Kenya’s Davis Kiplangat looked poised to challenge the world 10,000m champion.

Mechaal and Kiplangata both crossed the line in 7:40.34 and 7:40.63 respectively.

The current Scottish record in 3000m Andrew Butchart and Australian Patrick Tiernan both finshed with 7:44.10 and 7:46.99 respectively.

Farah will retire from the track at the Diamond League finals in Zurich on Thursday.

World 10000m champion and 5000m silver medalist Mo Farah will headline the Grand Prix Birmingham 3000m race that will be held on Sunday (20) in Alexander Stadium in England.

Farah was seeking a fitting end to his matchless long-distance racing career before moving to marathon running, the 34-year-old Briton’s bid for a fifth straight global 10,000/5000m double was scampered as he had to settle for the silver with the Ethiopian Edris Muktar winning the race with both clocking 13:33.22 and 13:32.79 respectively.

Farah comes to this race with seasons best of 7:35.15 and a PB of 7:32.62 and will have to battle with World Junior silver medallist Davis Kiplangat who shocked many at the London Championships when he became the first Kenyan to be lapped in any race.

Kiplangat told the Kenyan officials that the body became numb due to the weather conditions making him to race the way it happened.

The 20 year-old has a season best of 7:38.33 and hoping to redeem his image as he faces once more Farah but this time in a shorter distance race.

The 2016 European Indoor Championships Adel Mechaal from Spain is another title hope as he carries season best of 7:35.28 being the second fastest time on this lineup.

Germany’s record holder in 3000m and 5000m Andrew Butchart is also lined up for the race as well as the Oceania Youth Championships silver medallist Patrick Tiernan from Australia.

Another Kenyan to watch will be Vincent Kibet who has a PB of 7:50.54.

Four time Olympic Champion Mo farah ran his farewell 3000m race at the London Anniversary games that were held on Sunday (9) in London.

The 34 year old fought hard for victory when he out kicked the hard fighting spain’s Adel Mechaal to cross the finish line with 7:35.15 with Mechaal taking second position with 7:36.32.

The current Scottish record holder in 3000m and 5000m Andrew Butchart came in third placed with 7:37.56.

Australia long distance runner Patrick Tiernan took fourth place in 7:37.76 while Davis Kiplangat and Frank Ngelel of Kenya could only afford to be fifth and sixth position in 7:38.33 and 7:38.50 respectively.

Farah will be at the London Championships in August for his third attempt in 5000m and 10000m.

Mo Farah etched himself into Olympic history with a masterful victory over 5000m to complete the ‘double double’ at Rio 2016.

The British great’s tactics were supreme as he dictated the pace before taking gold in 13:03.30 after another brutal final lap burn-up.

Silver and bronze initially went to the United States’ Paul Chelimo and Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, but both were disqualified after stepping on the inside of the track during a scrappy conclusion to the race.

That promoted Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet and United States’ Bernard Lagat into the medals. GB’s Andrew Butchart was bumped into fourth.

Kenya will not be represented in this year at Rio Olympics final in 5000m final. Kenya has be represented in the race consistently for the last 50 years, save for the 1980 Games in Moscow, which Kenya boycotted.

All the three Kenyans participating in the men’s 5,000 metres bowed out in the heats stage, leaving Kenya with no runner in the finals for the first time in 50 years.

World silver medallist Caleb Ndiku, Isaiah Kiplagat and Charles Yosei who was not at the starting list failed to get through to the finals of 10,000m the race we have particiated for the last 50 years.

Kenya will have no runners in the final, but Kenya-born American Bernard Lagat progressed at the age of 41.